Adjustable carrier for containers



Aug. 29, 1961 E. c. WEDER ETAL ADJUSTABLE CARRIER FOR CONTAINERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 22, 1960 INVENTOR ELDO/V 6. W505? TIM/MAS D. l/ZMET BY W San/WES ATTORNEY Aug. 29, 1961 E. c. WEDER ETAL 2,998,174

ADJUSTABLE CARRIER FOR CONTAINERS Filed March 22, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR EZDO/V 6. WED/:7?

THU/MAS D. ULMET ATTORNEY 2,998,174 ADJUSTABLE CARRIER FOR CONTAINERS Eldon C. Weder, 1412 Olive, and Thomas D. Ulmet, 1100 Lindenthal, both of Highland, 111. Filed Mar. 22, 1960, Ser. No. 16,741 2 Claims. (Cl. 224-48) The present invention relates to an adjustable carrier for containers, particularly a carrier which is adjustable for carrying a plurality of flower pots or like containers of varying diameter.

Conventionally flower pots subsequent to arrangement and decoration are carried individually by hand from the florist shop, to delivery trucks and thence from the trucks for delivery to the customer. This handling is time consuming and damaging. The delivering employee can carry only one or two pots at a time and has d-ifiiculty in keeping the potted plants upright within the truck bed While in transit. Sometimes sandbags, bricks, boards and similar items are employed to keep the potted plants upright during transportation. This handling results in damage to the flower arrangement, as Well as the foil and like decorative material which is frequently employed to cover the flower pot. Numerous previous inventors have attempted to adapt trays with handle and brace means for carrying bottles and cups. At least one previous inventor has provided in such a carrier adjustable container braces for carrying containers of varying diameters. However, the container braces are made of ductile material which must be pinched or late-rally distended to engage the walls of the containers being carried. Furthermore, such carriers laterally support the containers at only one or two points. Alternatively, flexible loops have been attached to such carriers for engaging the containers being carried.

According to the present invention, a carrying base is provided with an upright carrying handle supported in said base. A fixed container brace configured tolaterally support a side of a container is elevated from said base and a complementary, adjustable container brace configured to laterally support another side of said container is elevated from said base for longitudinal actuation towards and away from said fixed brace to accommodate between said fixed and complementary braces containers of varying diameter. Also, according to the present invention link means may interconnect the foot of the carrying handle and the complementary adjustable container brace so that upon lifting vertical actuation of the handle the complementary brace is longitudinally actuable towards the fixed brace to engage and laterally support a flower pot or like container placed upon the carrying base between the braces. The present carrier thus provides for the carrying of a plurality of containers of varying diameter with increased efliciency and without damage.

Accordingly, it is an object of invention to provide a carrier which is adjustable for carrying containers of varying diameter.

Another object of invention is to provide an adjustable carrier for flower pots.

Another object of invention is to provide in a carrier for containers means for grasping and laterally supporting the said containers upon lifting of the carrier.

Yet additional objects of invention will become apparent from the ensuing specification and attached drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the adjustable carrier, showing two flower pots laterally supported by an inner fixed container brace and an outer complementary adjustable container brace.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section of the flower pot ice carrier illustrated in FIG. 1, showing link means interconnecting the foot of the upright carrying handle and the complementary, adjustable container braces; limits of handle, link and complementary brace movement upon verticle actuation of carrying handle shaft 16 being shown in phantom.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the flower pot container showing the V-shaped configurations of the inner fixed container brace and the outer complementary adjustable container brace.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation, partially fragmentary of a modification of invention wherein carrying handle shaft 16 is fixed in the carrying base although the complementary adjustable container brace remains manually actuable towards and away from the inner or fixed brace.

In FIG. 1 a carrier tray is illustrated as comprising base 14, having flower pots 12 placed thereon. Upright shaft 16 having handle 18, is illustrated as supported for vertical actuation in the midsection of base 14. An inner, fixed container brace 20 is shown as fixed to base 14 by means of brackets 22. At its opposite ends fixed brace 20 and inset V-configurations laterally support the adjacent sides of flower pots 12. Outer adjustable brace 24 is shown as held to base 14 by means of brackets 26 and medial guide 28. Adjustable brace 24 has at its opposite ends complementary outset V-configuration for laterally supporting the non-adjacent sides of flower pots 12. Manifestly, the end configuration braces 20 and 24 may be of semi-circular, or any other configuration to accommodate square, rectangular or odd shaped containers.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, adjustable brace 24 is linked to the foot of carrying handle shaft 16 by means of linked arms 36 and 38 which are pivoted as at 40 upon shaft 16. Thus in lifting carrier 10 and raising carry ing handle 18 to the position shown in phantom in FIG. 2 adjustable braces 24 are urged toward fixed braces 20 so as to engage and laterally support a side of a flower pot or container placed upon base 14 between the adjacent ends of braces 20 and 24.

A modification of invention is illustrated in FIG. 4 wherein upright shaft 16 is secured in base 14 by means of setting nuts 34 or the like. According to this modification, adjustable braces 24 are urged manually towards and away from fixed brace 22 for similar lateral support of containers of varying diameter.

Manifestly, the configuration of the container braces and the means for urging same toward each other may be varied to adapt the carrier for a multiplicity of uses such as the carrying of paint buckets for use by painters while on ladders and scaffolds, for carrying ice buckets for use by bell hops, for carrying beverage containers for use by car hops and the like. Also, the braces may be diagonally presented upon base 14 so as to accommodate four or more containers upon a single carrier.

Having described their invention, but without limitation to the suggested structure, applicants claim their invention as follows:

1. An adjustable carrier for containers comprising a substantially flat carrying base and having a foot extending through said base, a carrying handle supported in said base, a fixed container brace elevated from said base and having a horizontally disposed V-shaped portion to laterally support one side of a container, a complementary container brace elevated from said base adjacent said fixed brace and having a horizontal V-shaped portion to laterally support another side of said container apexes of said V-shaped portions being disposed at opposite sides of said container, link means interconnecting said complementary brace and the foot of said handle, said complementary brace being actuable upon said base towards and away from said fixed brace to accommodate between said fixed and complementary braces containers of varying diameter upon lifting and releasing actuation of said handle.

2. An adjustable carrier as in claim 1, said fixed container brace having opposed horizontal V-shaped portions and said complementary brace having opposed horizontal V-shaped portions adjacent said V-shaped portions of said fixed container brace and said complemem tary brace being slidable upon said base to close said complementary brace V-shaped portions towards said fixed brace V-shaped portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Buser Jan. 28, Onos July 18, Jenkins Aug. 20, Fashing Oct. 4, Pitz Jan. 27, Zito et a1. Aug. 20, 

